Automobile.



No. 726,967. I PAT'ENTED MAY 5, I908. O B. MILLS & A. WILLIAMS.

AUTOMOBILE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 30, 1902.

NO MODEL. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

ZZ/z'zrz 55 ea Z2 0622179217 55 4 (Q 439% No. 726,967. PATENTBD MAY 5, 1903. G. B. MILLS & A. WILLIAMS. AUTOMOBILE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 30, 1902.

N0 MODEL. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

- ders.

UNITED STATES Patented May 5, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

CHESTER B. MILLS, OF VVILMERDIN G, AND ANTHONY XVILLIAMS, OF PITTS- BURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNORS, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, OF ONE-HALF TO SEWALL MORSE, OF BRATTLEBORO, VERMONT.

AUTOMOBILE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent N 0. 726,967, dated May 5, 1903.

Application filed April so, 1902. Serial No. 105,315. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern: Be it known thatwe, CHESTER B. MILLS, residing at Wilmerding, and ANTHONY WIL- LIAMS, residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State 'of Pennsylvania, citizens of the United States, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automobiles, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This i-nvention relates to steam carriages, wagons, and other self-propelled vehicles; and one object thereof is to mount wheeldriving motors on the axle in an improved and effective manner.

Further objects are to provide improved means for controlling and reversing the motors, to provide improved mountings for the ground-wheels and efiective connections between the same and the motors, and to provide flexible steam-conduits between a generator in the spring-mounted vehicle-body and the motors.

With these objects in view the invention consists in the novel structural features and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described'and claimed, and illustrated by the accompanying drawings, wherein-.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a carriage equipped with our improvements. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the lower portion of, the carriage. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional View which includes two of the engine-cylin- Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7 are sectional views on lines 4 4, 5 5, 6 6, and 7 7, respectively, of Fig. 3. Fig. Sis a sectional view of the reversing-valve. Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view of the axle, steam-pipes, controlling-valve, and steam-generator.

Referringto the drawings, 2 represents the vehicle-body, 3 the tubular rear axle, and 4 the springs, which may be of any preferred form. Uniting with each extremity of axle 3 and forming a continuation thereof is the shell or body 5, carrying three radially-arranged cylinders 6, having corresponding ducts 7 leading to the cylinder outer ends. The three pistons 8 connect through rods 8 with wrist-pin 9 on crank 10 of drive-shaft 11.

Said shaft is journaled in the elongated outwardly-extending frame 12, the inner portion of this frame having threaded union 13 with and closing the outer open face of shell or body 5. The outer reduced portion of said frame constitutes spindle 14, in which shaft 11 rotates with an interposed bearing-sleeve 15 and on which ground-wheel hub 16 is rotated, said wheel having an intermediate bearing sleeve or box 17.

Projecting from the inner face of hub 16 is the annular extension 18, which embraces the inner portion of frame 12 and overlaps the felt or other suitable dust-excluding band 19, Secured within hub extension 18 is gear-wheel 20, and meshing. therewith are opposite pinions 21, which rotate on arbors 22 in frame 12'and which in turn mesh with pinion 23, fixed on drive-shaft 11, whereby power under reduced speed is transmitted to the groundwheel. At its outer end shaft 11 is held against inward movement by nut 24. The

- ground-wheel may be confined on spindle 14 in any suitable manner, the means here shown being nut 25 and lock-nut 25', with suitable interposed washers, the whole being inclosed by hub-cap 26.

The portion of shell or body 5 in line with axle 3 is recessed to form a seat for the coneshaped valve casing 27, held therein by screws 28 and formed with ports 29, inter- 8o secting ducts 7, and port 30, from which extends exhaust-pipe 31. The inner open end of valve-casing 27 is contracted to confine the rotary valve 32, from which projects crankarm 33, connecting with wrist 9, whereby the valve and drive-shaft rotate at a common speed. The connection between crank 33 and arm 9 affords slight play, as indicated at 33, whereby slight distortion'of the said wrist or-drive-shaft crank will not be communi- 9o cated to the valve. A bath of oil is maintained in shell 5 and cylinders 6, in which the cranks, wrist-pin, and pitman operate,

and the valve is lubricated through ports 27 in the contracted end of casing 27. Valve 32 5 is formedwith' the central longitudinal livesteam port 34, which atone end opens through the end face of the valve, where it is in constant communication with asbestos-incased steam-pipe 36 within the tubular axle. The opposite end of port 34: opens laterally at 35 through the valve periphery in the plane of casing-ports 29. The periphery of the valve opposite port-outlet35 and in the plane of the latter is recessedfto form port 37, which toward the axle end of the valve and in the plane of easing exhaust-port is continuous around the valve, as indicated at 38, Fig. 7, whereby the valve exhaust-port is always in communication with exhaust-pipe 31. The width of portion of port 34 is such that steam is not entirely shut oif from one duct 7 before it is admitted to another duct, as shown in Fig. 5, so that at no time are all of the cylinders without steam. At the same time valve exhaust-port 37 is constantly open to one of ducts 7 and during a greater portion of its revolution is open to two of said ducts. v

Asteam-generator 39 of any preferred construction is located in vehicle-body 2 and connected by pipe 40 with inlet-port a of valve-casing 41. At the bottom of this casing or opposite port a is exhaust dischargeport I), while at one side thereof is the livesteam outlet 0 and on the opposite side exhaust-steam inlet 61. The valve proper, 42, is substantially fiat and of suflicient thickness to close port a when in neutral position, as shown in full lines in Fig. 7. From steamoutlet 0 extends pipe 43 to axle 3, where it connects with pipe 36 within the axle, through which steam is conducted to the motors at opposite ends of the axle. A similar pipe 4t connects motor exhaust-pipeSl and inlet (Z of valve-casing 41. Pipes 43 and 44; are provided with flexible sections 43' 4st, respectively, to compensate for vibrations of the springmounted body. The steam and exhaust pipes are so arranged within the vehicle-body that valve 42 may be turned either forward or backward, the stem thereof carrying arm 45, connected by link 46 to the lower end of operating-lever 47, fulcrumed between its ends at etS and having convenient position adjacent the vehicle-seat.

With valve 42 and arm in upright position, as shown in full lines in Fig. 8, steam is shut off. To start they carriage forward, 1ever 47 is moved forward, turning the valve so as to place casing-ports a and c in communication on one side thereof and ports I) and (Z on the opposite side. Thus steam is admitted to the engines through pipe 43, ax1e-inclosed pipe 36, valve 32, and ducts 7 and exhausts through ducts 7', valve 32, pipes 31 and 44. into valve-casing 41, and outward therefrom into the air through port Z). To reverse the direction of motion of the vehicle, lever 47 is moved backward or in areverse direction, so turning the valve as to direct the steam from the boiler into exhaust-pipe 44 and placing steam-pipe 43 in communication with exhaust b... Thus the engines are caused to take steam through exhaust-port 37 of valve 32 and exhaust the same through valve-port 34, pipes 36 and 43, valve-case 41 to exhaust-discharge Z). In other words, the arrangement is such that for backing the steam passes to and from the engines in directions reverse to that followed thereby when running forward, valve 32 serving to properly admit and exhaust the steam for either operation.

In the adaptation of the invention here shown only the rear wheels are provided with motors; but it will be understood that the front wheels may be equipped in the same manner. The motors are direct-acting, and being on the axle rather than in or on the body there is no loss of power in transmitting the same to the wheels. Frame 12 may be removed, and with it the drive-shaft and piston-actuating crank, afiording access to the interior of shell 5 and cylinders 6.

While the invention contemplates the use of steam, air or other fluid under pressure may be used. i

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a self-propelled vehicle, the combination of atubular axle, a source of motive fluid connected'thereto, a motor including valve mechanismfor admitting motive fluid from the tubular axle to the motor, and a groundwheel operatively connected to the mo'toigsubstant-ially as described.

2. In a self-propelled vehicle, the combination of a tubularaxle, a motor communicating therewith, a pipe extending from the motor, a source of steam connected to the pipe and axle, valve mechanism adapted to cause the motor to take and exhaust steam through the axle and said pipe interchangeably, and a ground-wheel operatively connected to the motor, substantially as described.

3. In a self-propelled vehicle, the combination of a tubular axle, a source of steam connected thereto, a motor having a valve-seat, a motor-actuated valve in the seat and open adjacent the tubular axle and in constant com mun ication therewith,and a ground-wheel operatively connected to themotor, substan tially as described.

4. In a self-propelled vehicle, the combination of a tubular axle, a source of steam connected thereto, a motor, amotor-actuated valve intermediate the motor and axle and con trolling com munication therebetween,and a ground-wheel operatively connected to the motor, substantially as described.

5. In a self-propelled vehicle, the combination of an axle, a motor having one side of its frame secured to the axle extremity,a ground wheel bearing projecting from the opposite side of the motor, the axle and bearing being separated by the motor though connected or united through the medium thereof, and a ground-wheel on the bearin g operatively connected to the motor, substantially as described.

6. In a self-prope1led vehicle, the combination of an axle, a motor mounted on the axle, a tubular bearing projecting from the motorframe, a motor-shaft journaled within the tubular bearing, a ground-wheel journaled on the tubular bearing, and an operative connection between the said shaft and groundwheel, substantially'as described.

7. The combination of a tubular axle, a motor mounted on the axle and communicating therewith, a source of motive fluid connected to the axle, a ground-wheel, and a drive-shaft operatively connecting the motor and wheel, substantially as described.

8. The combination of a tubular vehicleaxle, a source of steam connected thereto, a multiple-piston motor mounted on the axle, the motor-frame having ports connecting the tubular axle and motor cylinders, and a ground-wheel operatively connected to the motor, substantially as described.

9. In a self-propelled vehicle, the combina tion of a tubular axle, a multiple-cylinder motor mounted on the axle, steam-ports connecting the tubular axle with the cylinders, a source of steam connected to the tubular axle, and the ground-wheel operatively connected to the motor, substantially as described.

10. In a self-propelled vehicle,the combination of a vehicle-axle, a motor thereon having a drive-shaft, the outer face of the motorframe being formed with an opening, a bearing for the motor-shaft closing said opening,

' and the ground-wheel actuated by said shaft,

substantially as described.

11. In a self-propelled vehicle,the combination of a non-rotating motor having a groundwheel-actuating shaft, a motor-actuated combined inlet and exhaust valve, and steam inlet and exhaust connections'for said valve,

substantially as described.

12. In a self-propelled vehicle, the combination of a non-rotating motor having inlet and exhaust connections, and a rotary two-way motor-actuated valve controlling communication between the motor and said connections, substantially as described.

13. In a self-propelled vehicle, the combina- 'tionof a non-rotating multiple-cylinder motor having a steam -duct for each cylinder, steam inlet and exhaust connections, and a motor-actuated two-way valve common to the latter and all said cylinder-ducts, substantially as described.

14. The combination of a tubular vehicleaxle, a ground-wheel, a wheel-actuating motor in communication with the tubular axle, a spring-mounted vehicle-body on the axle, a source of motive fluid carried by the body, and a flexible conduit connecting the source of fluid and tubular axle, substantially as described.

15. The combination of a vehicle-axle, a ground-wheel, a wheel-actuating motor on the axle, a spring-mounted vehicle-body, a source of motive fluid carried by the body, starting and reversing mechanism on the body connec ted to said fluid source, and two flexible fluid inlet and exhaust conduits connecting I the motor and said mechanism, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

' CHESTER B. MILLS.

ANTHONY WILLIAMS. Witnesses:

J. M. NESBIT, ALEX. S.'MABON. 

